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Kent Poetry are absolute dynamos – a shining example of cultural activism, renewal and grassroots support. – Pete the Temp, former Hammer & Tongue UK Poetry Slam champion

As someone who has been working in literature and literature development in Medway for over ten years, there is a definite need for an organisation like Kent Poetry to help all the diverse and geographically separate groups come together. There is so much going on, that an organisation that takes a view of the bigger picture is essential. – Sam Fentiman Hall / Wordsmithery

I’ve recommended Kent Poetry CIC to every single poet I’ve had a conversation with. – Myriam San Marco

KentPoetry.com is the best way to bring poets and audiences together. This vibrant scene – festivals, shows, talks and books – really needs a home. – Andreas Loizou, The Margate Bookie

The Kent Poetry scene contains a great deal of potential, but there is a strong need to unite the community and create avenues to promote the work being produced. The scene will benefit from an organisation to support national partners as they extend their work this way. We need a dedicated avenue to promote our books and events that goes beyond just social media, and builds a community. – Francesca Baker, And So She Thinks

I can’t think of two better people than Connor Sansby and Nina Telegina to help Kent fulfill its potential as a hub for creatives. As well as being heavily involved in the Kent artistic scene, they have a deep understanding of the interplay between events and people, and of the importance of a shared platform to help promoters reach their audience. – Louise Devismes, Cacofonix

Kent Poetry has supported me in my poetry career consistently for many years, from helping me to organise one off pub gigs, to booking tours and writing funding proposals – making all of this exponentially easier. This site will be an excellent tool for other poets and event organisers to be similarly supported. – Sadie Davison, former Kent Poetry Champion

Kent has always inspired writers, from TS Eliot to John Betjeman, Charles Dickens to Dennis Wheatley, and with all that history around it’s easy to overlook the excitement, energy, and diversity of our contemporary poets. Kent Poets will be a topical, up-to-date resource for poets, performers, promoters and the people that love poetry. – Dan Thompson, poet and social artist

Kent Poetry CIC is a dedicated, grassroots non-profit that champions local poetry and diversity. Their events are innovative, thoughtful and inclusive. They do not rely on preexisting models but always try and reinvent the wheel when it comes to poetry to get more people involved. I myself have gone from a local poet performing every so often to a national poet with two published books with their support. Connor and Nina are genuinely lovers of poetry and are determined to see others succeed in their field. – Setareh Ebrahimi, award-winning poet

It cannot be overstated the positive impact both as a creative force and a support for artists and people that Connor and Nina have and continue to have in Kent. I know I wouldn’t have achieved what I have in the Kent poetry scene without them, and I know there are many others who would agree with me. If there is any justice or magic in this world their recourses to continue their work, and their influence will only grow – I can’t be sure if much, but I’m sure that would be a true good for the creative industry throughout the country. – Ciaran Barata-Hynes, former Kent Poetry Champion

Kent Poetry CIC has been actively engaged in the community both as single practitioners and as a company for several years and it shows in their support and service to developing artists. With a variety of experience in writing, publishing, performance, coaching and event planning they understand how adaptability and strategic planning are core to success in the industry. They guide from reflective engagement and put the artist’s goals centre to their service. – Genevive Ray, poet & theatre producer

I have always found Connor from Kent Poetry CIC to be approachable, friendly and very knowledgeable and so asked him to come to the British Juggling Convention to give a talk on Funding applications (entitled, appropriately, ‘Stop Making it Hard!’). It was very well received and gave useful insights to a range of circus performers and workshop leaders, and I know they have implemented his ideas in their funding applications. Connor has provided consultation and a soundboard for setting up a CIC to support the British Juggling Community. He is a person who, even when sharing lots of knowledge and useful insights, manages to never make you feel stupid! – Anna, Coastal Circus Ltd

I have recently designed and delivered workshops exploring visual poetry in my local mental health drop-in centre and at local LGBTQ+ Society meetings, as part of my research for a KCC funded art project focussed on suicide prevention. As a result of these workshops, several people have told me that they feel encouraged and emboldened to see themselves as poets with an authentic voice. I would never have had the confidence to apply for the grant funding without the support of Connor Sansby of Kent Poetry CIC. Their support has been invaluable to me and the ripples from that support are spreading out among my community. – Kate Lynn-Devere, artist and songwriter

Connor is the best publisher to work with. He’s artist-focused and truly values the insight of those in his community. His events are always so valuable, not only to the artists performing, but to everyone in attendance. His poetry is a breath of fresh air in a crowded space and he constantly breathes life into the poetic art form and into the community itself. If you ever have the honor or the privilege to attend one of his events or read one of his poems or be one of his poets, don’t take that opportunity lightly. He will fundamentally change your life for the better if you give him a chance. – Jocelyn Mosman, award-winning poet

I wouldn’t be where I am without Kent Poetry – no book, no big projects, no international coverage for events, and much less confidence in writing and performing. Kent Poetry has connected me with poets in Kent and beyond which allowed me to forge connections and relationships that I wouldn’t otherwise have had access to, including powerhouses Connor and Nina themselves. Their work is vital to the continued growth of the poetry scene in the UK, both in Kent and across the country. – Crow Rudd, award-winning poet

I can think of no service more beneficial to the arts community than Kent Poetry CIC. For Expert mentors, advisors, funding specialists, marketing and up to date action- look no further. – Marcus Holmes, The Writers Bloc

In 2020 my wife, Rosemary McLeish, died, leaving a wealth of fine poetry most of which had not been printed. To keep her poems alive I decided, with much encouragement from the community, to read them at poetry events. I did this as soon as lockdown ceased and events began to reappear, the first of which was at the Eats’n’Beats café in Ramsgate hosted by the recently deceased and hugely missed Emile Sercombe. Subsequently, I was able to perform at events run by Jo Eden in the Rumour Café, Sheerness; Big Trouble run by David Dykes and Bethany Goodwill in Rochester; the Elito Poetry Café in Folkestone run by Anthony White; Alice Gretton’s events in Canterbury; Oare Poetry run by Clair Meyrick; Broadstairs Folk Week Poetry run by Maggie Harris; and events at Sugar Rush in Ramsgate run by Genevieve Pepper. All of this support, particularly as these events are so different one from another, enabled me to gain enough confidence to perform at festivals in St. Andrews, Glasgow, Faversham and Stowmarket. I believe that this is getting Rosie’s name more widely known. This would not have happened without the widespread and mutually supportive spoken word community in Kent. – Richard Cooper, performer

Connor Sansby was my mentor at Kent Poetry Collective and under his guidance I had my first collection of poems published and took my solo show to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2022. – Pauline Holmes, former Kent Poetry Champion

I went to a Kent poetry event and it was awesome. I’ve been to a lot of events like this before and really enjoyed them but this event in particular was fab – why? Because it was all embracing, all encompassing, and all welcome. I’ve been to a few things in the past that have made me feel a little on edge, let’s say, perhaps because I’m just not sure where I fit in within the niche – but this event was different in that I felt welcome, welcomed, and appreciated as a participant.That’s the thing about Kent Poetry. You’re invited to be you in a room full of others just being who they are too. It’s liberating. – Louise Harman, audience member

There we were in a bar in a shopping centre at the end of SE England, transported to another world by brilliant poetry slammers who’d come to move us and shake us and remind us that there are whole levels of literary existence to be enjoyed, if only someone puts the time in and creates the (special) space and conditions for the magic to manifest. – Simon Cole, artist

I recently went to a spoken word/music event organized by Kent Poetry that was insightful, fun and really engaged the audience, I loved it. It was a night I still talk about with friends and look forward to going to more events hosted by them in the future. – Nathan T, audience member

Kent has the potential to be a leading light in UK poetry with a number of diverse and marginalised voices in the area. Kent Poetry CIC’s proposal to foster a diverse community of creatives, offer mentoring from professionals, and give advice/help with grants is a much-needed step forward in allowing Kent to create, foster and keep talented, professional poets. – Adrian Saredia Brayley, artist

Kent Poetry CIC promotes inclusion, diversity, and equality within the artistic community. Kent Poetry CIC welcomes everyone, from seasoned, published writers to newcomers, facilitating access to opportunities for all. – Sam Rapp, award-winning poet

As a writer with many years experience in Thanet, I really believe I would never have achieved what I have without support along the way. It is not just supporting creativity – it’s the whole business of helping each other, negotiating the minefield of being a writer – where do I start, how does my work fit in, shall I go to this event or that event? Will anyone like my work? Do I need to be clever to be a poet? I’ve always been part of a community of writers – it’s vital that we support other writers and we gain confidence along the way. People are all different levels and we can all learn from each other. Beginner writers used to think that the aim is to get published but I think some things have changed due to the spoken word evolution – that’s more about performance and there’s an immediacy about performance poems that can be quite distinct from page poetry. Only by taking part in live events will new poets learn their performance craft. But there are also issues around access to the ‘poetry world’ – what magazines shall we send our work to if we want to get published, or how about competitions? Is it worth entering? Being a poet also costs money! Travelling to a gig has costs. Sometimes you can get paid if you’re lucky! Help with grants is another huge area if folk want to develop their work or have a project in mind. I have been lucky to have been successful at seeking funding in the past and at winning some prizes but even I needed help recently with applying as its not easy! – Maggie Harris, award-winning poet

It is essential that spoken word poetry be funded like other entertainment arts so that everyone can be included without individuals having to make financial losses over and over. Everyone should have access to the arts, and people should be able to give their time and love to making spaces for that without it causing personal hardship, or this arts scene will become more and more divided by class. Kent Poetry CIC work hard to not only provide spaces, but to share opportunities and points of access to the arts created by other local organisations. They are truly generous with their efforts and dedication to a community, and they need financial support to keep that dedication alive and progressive for years to come. – Kathryn O’Driscoll, former Farrago UK Slam Champion